New revealations on Moon

The ancient astronomers once deemed the Moon, like Earth to be awash with water.

The space age, revealed these oceans or More, to be desolate, bone-dry basalt plains and ever since the Moon has been saddled with the reputation as a hostile place forever lacking a key ingredient for life.

There is evidence that water has been a part of the Moon since its early existence. And it strengthens speculation that the precious stuff may be found at the lunar poles.

A leading theory is that the Moon was created when a Mars-sized object whacked into the infant Earth, some 4.5 billion years age, sending molten debris into orbit that coalesced and cooled to form our plant's satellite.

The violence of this collision have vapourised the proto-Moon's light elements, including those for water, in a flash.

But a close examination of glassy, pebble-like beads brought back by the Apollo missions has revealed a surprise.

Previous examination of these rocks, the result of a volcanic outpouring some 3.5 million years ago, had found no signs of water, a finding consistent with the 'waterless Moon' conception.